This, too, is Texas

by CJ

If you can hate Austin whilst eating tacos beneath a shady oak, if your heart stays cold when this verdant city rings with birdsong, if your eyes aren’t dewy at miles and miles of bluebonnets, then maybe Texas aint for you.

I, on the other hand, think it might be right for me.

Okay, I accept that springtime is a blessed time in any part of the world. And yes, I know that soon I’ll be moving my bed into the air conditioning vent. But just for now, please indulge my smugness about being here rather than anywhere else in America.

Why? Because my recent personal dramas have forced me to step out from that comfy place behind my white picket fence. For the first time since I moved to Austin, I’ve thought about weighty things like the kind of society I want to live in and the sort of community I want for my child. Though Rick Perry and his woman-hating lieutenants cast a shameful light upon our whole state, their scornful views are hard to find in the Austin I actually inhabit.

I’ve already waxed liberal about the broad-minded charity of my community when Walter and I made our controversial choice. Never for a moment did I feel judged, despite what Mr Perry might say.

So when I think about the world I want Poppy to grow up in, I want it to be just like the Austin I know now, minus bad politics.

And in everyday life, it’s the small things that matter. It’s the young man at the supermarket checkout who, with handlebar mustache and tragic eyes, educates me about President Bush’s tax cuts. It’s the mums on my neighborhood block who come up with a hundred creative ways to make it safe for us to cross the road into the park. It’s the chic Texans who live downtown and discuss hopeful things with a southern lilt. It’s the fact that, on varying civic levels, every Austinite cares.

Thus, though the eyes of Texas may weep at the dismal state of our politics, the capital of Texas is still a very fine place to live.

Or at least, on this glorious day in spring, that’s how it feels to me.

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12 Comments to “This, too, is Texas”

You could be a Syrian right now, wanting a say in how your country’s run. You could be a Tennessean facing the fact that your kids might be taught that tornadoes are instruments of God. You could be in Israel, torn between a passion for justice and desire to see the “Jewish State” survive into adulthood.

Wherever you are, it’s those you associate with, those you learn from and those you influence for the good who make a place a home.

Yes Jon, I also agree with you, so well said. You could also be in Zimbabwe, a beautiful country, who is so uncertain of her future. But, it is also who you associate with that makes whereever you are, a beautiful world. I am so happy that you are happy my precious CJ.

I believe good things can be found everywhere, although they might be easier to find in some places than in others- and some people might need some help to be able to see them.

A lot of people I know are convinced they could be perfectly happy if only they could earn just a little more, or live in a different place, or fit into a size 8, or own an iPhone 4S. It’s sad because they could be perfectly happy without constantly looking for the missing piece. Good for you you’re able to realize you’re living a good life in a nice place!!

You could be in Florida worryng about racial tension, the ‘Stand your ground’ law and Treyvon Martin’s parents, and asking why your views could be compromised by a glorious spring breeze. We can’t blame an entire state and all the people living there. Florida also has insolent women at supermarkets, wacky politicians, and backward-thinking law enforcement, but the sun shines brightly every morning and brings a smile to my face.

Hi, I lived in a leafy Washington suburb for two years, but most of the time I live in France. The French complain all the time, especially the women, they are so negative. I miss that wonderful sense of community and caring that so many Americans have and I’m a little bit jealous of you. I’d love to live in the States again.

Henrietta – I admit that I was surprised by the strong sense of community we have here. I don’t know how much of it is American culture (yes, it’s dangerous to generalize), how much is the fact that I’m a parent (no, it’s not all mommy wars!) and how much it’s just the leafy eccentricity of my neighborhood. I agree with John (below), there’s an energy and optimism that feels quite different from Europe. Come back to the U.S. We’ll be nice to you! – CJ

C’mon back, Henrietta. We Americans are a friendly and positive lot most of the time. We’re optimistic about the future and willing to forgive the past, which is why we’re so distressed about the current crop of politicians plaguing us. Come back, please and help us clean house. You don’t even have to live in Texas!

My partner was down in Austin. See: http://thirdwavecyclingblog.wordpress.com Also includes another blog post on San Antonio. I understand that San Antonio is quite different and most accomodating for those of Mexican descent in spirit and acculturation. I live in Alberta, considered to be Canada’s “Texas” because of our oil and energy industry and much more conservative views than Ontario or British Columbia. I’ve lived for several decades in other 2 provinces.

It depends who you hang out. But hard reality can be measured by: where are the state dollars spent on in terms of social support services, medical support, etc.?

Jean — hard reality is certainly a tough place to be, especially when you measure it by the amount of State spending on social services. Texan legislators pride themselves on slashing budgets and, especially in the last legislative session, eviscerated funds for healthcare, education and community development. The more I think about that, the more depressed I become with the state of our State politics. Despite this though, Austin is still a good place to be. I’m glad your partner was impressed with the efforts made by the cycling community here to make it a biking city. Any progress they make is thanks to the energy and optimism of people at a micro-local level. I hope he decides to bike through again, and thanks to you for stopping by at this blog. – CJ